International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296

Study on Geotechnical Properties of Expansive Soil

Treated with Quarry Dust and Sodium Hydroxide
S.Veera Raghavulu1, Aswari Sultana Begum2, Dr. D S V Prasad3, Dr. G V R Prasada Raju4
1
M.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering, JNTUK, Kakinada, AP, India
2
Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, JNTUK, Kakinada, AP, India
3
Principal & Professor of Civil Engineering, BVC Engineering College, Odalarevu, AP, India
4
Principal & Professor of Civil Engineering, JNTUK, Kakinada, AP, India

Abstract: Expansive soils have problems to civil engineers in general and to geotechnical engineers in particular because of alternate
swell and shrinkage, distress is caused to the foundations of structures laid on such soils. Stabilization of the expansive soil is studied by
using quarry dust and Sodium Hydroxide. This paper includes the evaluation of soil properties like compaction and California Bearing
Ratio (CBR) tests by blending different percentages of quarry dust and sodium Hydroxide with a view to determine the effect on
strength characteristics and optimum percentages.. From the experimental results, it has been observed that various properties of soil
added with these stabilizers at certain percentage show remarkable positive changes as compared to the expansive soil. The value of
compaction parameters has increased enabling increase California Bearing Ratio in soaked conditions which indicates that improved
in strength. From these results, it was found that optimum quarry dust 20% and Sodium Hydroxide 5% combination gives the
maximum increment in the CBR value compared with all the other combinations.

Keywords: Expansive Soil, Quarry Dust, Sodium Hydroxide, Compaction, California Bearing Ratio

1. Introduction increase in addition of tile waste and NaOH[2]. Experimental

Civil and environmental engineering includes the analysis,
design, construction and maintenance of structures and
systems. All are built on, in, or with soil or rock. The
properties and behavior of these materials have major
influences on the success, economy, and safety of the work.
Geo-engineers play a vital role in these projects and are also
concerned with virtually all aspects of environmental control,
including waste disposal. Many researchers are doing
extensive studies on waste materials and research projects
concerning the feasibility and environmental suitability. Soil
stabilization is the alteration of one or more soil properties,
by mechanical or chemical means, to create an improved soil
material possessing the desired engineering properties. Effect
of waste Ceramic Dust and Quarry Dust on expansive soil by
performing the various testes such as liquid limit, plastic
limit, CBR test, compaction test &UCS test with addition of
different percentages of these wastes. These wastes increases
the strength of soil & CBR value of soil up to 100-150% and
also help to attain the Maximum Dry Density of soil and
decreasing the Optimum Moisture Content. By this study it is
also help to solve the disposal problem of these wastes which
is also create hazards problem in environment [1].
Laboratory test on selected soil sample to study the effect of
tiles waste and sodium hydroxide on the soil, the addition of
tiles waste and NaOH decreases the liquid limit and plastic
limit of the soil up to 35% and it increases beyond this limit.
The addition of tile waste and sodium hydroxide changes the
soil group from CI to ML according to IS 1498- 1970. MDD
increase with increase in 1% of tile waste and NaOH. The
shear stress increases by addition of tiles waste and NaOH.
Up to 35% of tile waste and 7.5% of NaOH and tend to
decrease beyond this limit. The CBR value increase with
study on black cotton soils blended with Quarry Dust and
Lime with different percentages on the geotechnical
properties. Results showed that Specific gravity of Black
Cotton Soil decreased with the addition of Quarry Dust and
Lime, this reduction of specific gravity value may be due to
the reduction of plasticity character of Black Cotton Soil.
Maximum Dry Density (MDD) is observed at soil sample 3
for addition of Quarry Dust and Lime. Further addition of it,
MDD value decreased. The strength of Black Cotton Soil
increasing with the addition up to soil sample 4 and further
decreased. From the test it is concluded that the strength
characteristics of Black Cotton Soil are optimum at Soil
sample 4 (8% lime + 20% quarry dust) [3]. Conducted
experimental study on utlisation of waste Rubber Tyre and
Quarry Dust, the results showed that significantly improved
the properties of expansive soil, CBR value of soil shows
good improvement by the addition of Crumb Rubber and
Quarry Dust, significant increase in unconfined compressive
strength and other parameters related to the soil. Their use in
soil sub-grade will result in the increase in the bearing
strength of soil which intern will reduce the design thickness
of pavement; therefore it will prove economical for the road
construction. Furthermore, there will be the proper disposal
of waste tyres and Quarry Dust thereby reducing the air and
soil pollution. Transportation cost can also be reduced as we
need not to borrow the improved soil from far places. Thus,
reducing the transportation cost as well[4].It is observed that
the specific gravity of black cotton soil increased with the
addition of Quarry Dust and Granite Waste, this increment of
specific gravity value may be due to the addition of plasticity
character of black cotton soil, Liquid Limit decreased from
21% to 17%, Unconfined Compressive Strength improved by
adding 20% Quarry Dust and Granite Waste. Addition of

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Paper ID: ART2019502 DOI: 10.21275/ART2019502 923
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296
different ratio of Quarry Dust and Granite Waste to the Black dust, Sodium Hydroxide mixed with different proportions
Cotton Soil gets stabilized, thus the Maximum Dry Density and evaluated Index properties, Compaction properties and
increases and Optimum Moisture Content goes on decreases. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test are considered in this
Coefficient of Curvature and Coefficient of Uniformity goes investigation. From the results maximum increase in strength
on increasing on addition of Granite Waste and Quarry Dust at 20% quarry dust and 5% Sodium Hydroxide compared to
[5]. Different concentrations of NaOH percentage by weight other combinations
of water is reacts with present minerals (Kaolinite and
Montominerllite) with in ions (Na+ & OH-) react with 2. Materials Used
different concentration for changes in engineering properties. The following materials are used in this study.
The OMC is decrease and MDD increase, as well as at 16%
NaOH concentration shown 17.10% OMC given stable 2.1 Expansive Soil
condition for OMC and MDD both properties of soil. At 0 to
16% NaOH concentration with the unconfined compressive The Expansive Soil used in this investigation was brought
strength of soil is decrease and at reaches at zero, it’s say that from Tummalapalli village, Allavaram Mandal East Godavari
strength does not exist in black cotton soil and change in District of Andhra Pradesh State, India. Index and
sand properties. NaOH concentration at 2% given the better Engineering properties of Expansive soil were determined as
result of unconfined compressive strength of soil comparison per IS codes and are presented in Table-1.
to normal soil [6]. Experimental study conducted on different
samples and concluded that expansive behaviour of Black
Cotton Soil can be effectively reduced with addition of
industrial waste material like quarry dust and the engineering
properties of Black Cotton Soil are improved. The
Differential Free Swell values are reduced from 58% to10%,
Optimum Moisture Content of black cotton soil has
decreased from 21.1% to 12.6% and Maximum Dry Density
has increased from 1.6g/cc to 1.76 g/cc with increase in the
percentage of Quarry Dust, significant improvement in the
Soaked CBR values with the addition of Quarry Dust and
addition of 40% of Quarry Dust into Black Cotton Soil
increases the CBR values from 1.75 % to 7.05% [7]. Series Figure 1: Expansive Soil
of laboratory tests to study the effects of quarry dust on the
expansive soil and from results, Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit Table 1: Physical Properties of Expansive Soil
and Plasticity Index are on decreasing with addition of quarry Property Symbol Value
dust in different percentages, Maximum Dry Density (MDD) Liquid Limit (%) WL 87
is increasing and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) is Plastic Limit (%) WP 37.5
decreasing with increase in percentage of Quarry Dust and Plasticity Index (%) IP 49.5
Gravel (%) 0.0
Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) is increasing with
Sand (%) 5.0
increase in percentage of Quarry Dust [8]. Various
Silt (%) 12.0
experiments on expansive soil blending with different % of
Clay (%) 83.0
quarry dust and from the results Differential Free Swell Soil Classification -- CH
values goes on decreasing with the increase in percentage of Specific Gravity G 2.65
Quarry Dust to the expansive soil from 100% to 83% at 10% Differential Free Swell (%) FS 130
of quarry dust, soaked CBR goes on increasing from 1.2% to Optimum Moisture Content (%) OMC 27.99
6.7% at 10% addition of Quarry Dust to the expansive soil. Maximum Dry Density (g/cc) MDD 1.443
The shear strength parameters such as cohesion goes on CBR(%) -- 1.23
decreasing from 16 kN/m2 to 4 kN/m2 and angle of internal Natural Moisture Content (%) w 11
friction goes on increasing from 190 to 290 with the addition
of 10% Quarry Dust to the expansive soil. From the cyclic 2.2 Quarry Dust
load test results it was observed that load carrying capacity of
expansive soil goes on increasing by the addition of quarry Quarry Dust for this study was collected from Rajahmundry,
dust up to 10% beyond not much effective [9].Experimental East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The index
study on effect of Quarry dust addition on conventional soil and Engineering properties of the soil were determined as per
reveals that the addition of the Quarry Dust to the soil IS codes and are presented in Table-2.
reduces the clay content and thus increases in the percentage
of coarser particles, reduces the Liquid limit by 26.86% and
Plasticity Index by 28.48% of unmodified soil. Optimum
Moisture Content of soil is decreased by 36.71%, with
increase in Percentages of Quarry Dust. Maximum Dry
Density of soil is increased by 5.88% by addition of (40%)
Quarry Dust. It is also identified that addition of (40%)
Quarry Dust yield high CBR value [10]. The present paper
discusses the properties of selected expansive soil and quarry
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Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
Paper ID: ART2019502 DOI: 10.21275/ART2019502 924
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296
weight was used for preparing different samples for
compaction and soaked CBR test. All the tests are conducted
as per Indian Standard Codes for finding optimum percentage
of quarry dust and Sodium Hydroxide material and the effect
on strength characteristics of expansive soil.

3.1 Index Properties

Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit of all the samples tried in this

investigation were determined by following Standard
procedures as per IS: 2720 (Part-5)-1985 and IS: 2720 (Part-
6)-1972.
Figure 2: Quarry Dust
3.2 Compaction Characteristics
Table 2: Physical Properties of Quarry Dust
Property Value The Compaction Characteristics of untreated and treated
Index properties Expansive soil with various percentages of Quarry dust and
Liquid Limit (%) Nil
Sodium Hydroxide were determined in the laboratory by
Plastic Limit (%) NP
following standard test procedure of IS heavy compaction
Plasticity Index NP
Specific Gravity 2.53
test as per IS 2720 part-VIII.
Grain(Particle) size Distribution
Coefficient of Uniformity(Cu) 18.59 3.3 California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test
Coefficient of Curvature(Cc) 3.95
Engineering Properties CBR test was carried out on prepared soil samples of
Optimum Moisture Content (%) 12.19 Untreated Expansive soil and treated Expansive soil with
Maximum Dry Density(kN/m3) 15.58 various percentages of Quarry dust and Sodium Hydroxide
California Bearing Ratio 7.0 under soaked condition as per recommendations in IS :2720
part XVI-1987 as shown in the Fig.4
2.3 Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) .

Sodium hydroxide is highly caustic base alkali, which

decomposes protinns at ordinary ambient temperature and
may cause severe chemical burns. It is highly soluble in water
and readily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the air
The influence of NaOH concentration in the range of 4M to
18M was systematically studies.

Figure 4: California Bearing Ratio Test Apparatus

Figure 3: Sodium Hydroxide 4. Results and Discussions

Various tests were conducted in the laboratory as per IS
3. Laboratory Experimentation Code provisions and the test results are furnished
below with a view to determine the optimum percentages and
The overall testing program is conducted in two phases. In
the effect on strength characteristics.
first phase, expansive soil was blending with different
percentages of Quarry Dust (QD), i.e. 10%, 15%, 20% and
4.1 Effect of Quarry Dust and Sodium Hydroxide on
25% by weight was used for conducting various tests in the
Index Properties
laboratory with a view to determine the optimum percentage
of Quarry Dust . The optimum percentage of Quarry Dust Liquid limit and plastic limit values were reduced from 87%
content is obtained from the results of compaction and to 61% and 37.5% to 28.2% with blending of different
soaked CBR tests. In second phase, expansive soil with percentages of quarry dust varying from 0 % to 25%
optimum percentage of quarry dust as base sample blended blending in expansive soil respectively as shown in the
with Sodium Hydroxide with 0 %, 3%, 4 %, 5% and 6 %
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Paper ID: ART2019502 DOI: 10.21275/ART2019502 925
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296
Fig.5.Considering 20% quarry dust with expansive soil as 4.2 Effect of Quarry Dust and Sodium Hydroxide on
base soil mix adding different percentages of sodium Compaction Properties
hydroxide (NaOH) 0%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% respectively ,
liquid limit and plastic limit values varies from 65% to 48% All the Samples are tested as per IS: 2720 (Part VIII) and
and plastic limit values are reduced from 30.9 to 20.05 as graphs drawn between water content and dry density for each
shown in the Fig.6 percentage and determined the OMC & MDD. The results of
different combinations of Quarry Dust and Sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH) are presented in the Figs. 7 & 8. From
the compaction test results the Maximum Dry Density values
are increased from 14.16 kN/m3,14.22 kN/m3,14.52
kN/m3,14.81 kN/m3 and 14.62 kN/m3 and the Optimum
Moisture Content values are decreasing from 29.99%,
29.57%, 29.03%, 28.58 % and 26 % respectively when the
expansive soil is mixed with 0 %, 10 %,15% ,20% and 25
% of quarry dust as shown in the Fig.7. From the above
results at 20% of quarry dust blending sample attained
maximum dry density as compared to other
combinations.OMC values are decreasing from 27.99%,
27.34%, 25.25%, 24.02% and 23.07% ;and MDD values are
varies 14.81 kN/m3 ,14.96 kN/m3 ,15.30 kN/m3 ,16.19
kN/m3 and 15.70 kN/m3 respectively when Sodium
Hydroxide (NaOH) adding with 0%,3%,4%,5% and 6%
Figure 5: Variation of Consistency Limits Values of respectively in the stabilized expansive soil with 20% quarry
Expansive Soil Treated with Different % of Quarry Dust dust as shown in the Fig.8.From the above results dry
density at 5% addition of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) when
compared to other samples tried in this investigation.

Figure 6: Variation of Consistency Limits Values of

Expansive Soil Treated with Optimum % of Quarry Dust Figure 8: Variation of Compaction Parameters of Expansive
(20%) Treated with Different % of Sodium Hydroxide Soil Treated with Optimum % of Quarry Dust (20%) Treated
(NaOH). with Different % Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).

Figure 7: Variation of Compaction Parameters of Expansive Figure 9: Variation of Soaked CBR Values of Expansive
Soil Treated with Different % of Quarry Dust Soil Treated with Different % of Quarry Dust

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Paper ID: ART2019502 DOI: 10.21275/ART2019502 926
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296
Figure 10: Variation of Soaked CBR Values of Expansive
Soil Treated with Optimum % of Quarry Dust (20%) Treated
with Different % of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).
4.3 Effect of Quarry Dust and Sodium Hydroxide on
Soaked CBR
CBR tests were conducted for expansive soil material mixed
with different percentages of quarry dust and the results were
presented in the Fig. 9. It is observed from that expansive soil
mixed with different percentages of quarry dust soaked CBR
values are 1.25 %, 2.69 %, 4.10 %, 5.15 % and 3.25 % for 0
%, 10 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 % of adding quarry dust and
found that 20% quarry dust has obtained maximum CBR
value as compared to other samples tried in this investigation
as shown in the Fig.9. Soaked CBR values are varied from
5.15%, 6.27%, 7.168%, 8.16% and 5.83% respectively when
Sodium Hydroxide adding with %, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% in
the stabilized expansive soil with 20% optimum quarry dust
as shown in the Fig.10.From the above results maximum
soaked CBR attained at 5% addition of Sodium Hydroxide
(NaOH) when compared to other samples tried in this
investigation.
5. Conclusions
The following conclusions were drawn based on the
laboratory studies carried out on this study.
Liquid limit of the expansive soil decreases from 87 % to 61
% and the plastic limit from 37.5% to 28.2% by adding with
the addition of quarry dust from 0% to 25% and 65% to 48%
of liquid limit, 30.9 % to 20.05 % of plastic limit decreases
by adding 0% to 6% sodium hydroxide which shows increase
in particle size and decrease in cohesion of soil.
The Maximum Dry Density (MDD) 14.81kN/m3 attained at
20% blending of Quarry Dust and 16.19 kN/m3 for 5%
Sodium Hydroxide where as Optimum Moisture Content
(OMC) is decreasing with increase in percentages.
The soaked CBR value of the expansive soil treated quarry
dust increases from 1.25 % to 5.15 % which is 3.2 times
greater than that of expansive soil at 20% quarry dust and
beyond decreased.
The soaked CBR value of the expansive soil treated with
optimum quarry dust and different percentage of sodium
hydroxide increases from 1.25 % to 8.16 % which is 7.2
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Paper ID: ART2019502 DOI: 10.21275/ART2019502
times greater than that of untreated expansive soil at 5%
sodium hydroxide and beyond decreased.
Hence, from the laboratory results, the optimum percentages
of Quarry Dust as 20% and Sodium Hydroxide 5% shows
maximum increase in strength properties as compared to
other samples.
Both Quarry dust and Sodium Hydroxide which will improve
the dry density and soaked CBR values blending with
different percentages in expansive soil will change the soil
structure and improve the geotechnical properties .Hence, the
use of quarry dust and Sodium Hydroxide in geotechnical
applications is economically beneficial and environmentally
advantageous and substantial save in cost of construction.
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 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN: 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2016): 79.57 | Impact Factor (2017): 7.296
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